Solenoid actuated printing platen



Dec. 18, 1951 A J PARK ErAL 2,578,830

SOLENOID ACTUATED PRINTING PLATEN Filed Feb. l5, 1947 INVENTORS, ALLANJ'. PARK AND BYMCHAELJ: DOES Patented Dec. 18, 1951 SOLENOID ACTUATEDPRINTING PLATEN Allan J. Park, Lakewood, and Michael J. Dobes, Euclid,Ohio, assignors to The National Acme Company, Cleveland, Ohio, acorporation of Ohio Application February 15, 1947, Serial No. 728,924

6 Claims.

This invention relates to electrically operated printing mechanisms andmore particularly to asolenoid operated printer useful in conjunctionwith recorders or counters.

Although electrically operated printing mechanisms are well known in theart, there have been certain disadvantages inherent in the prior deviceswhich the present invention overcomes.

One of the most serious disadvantages of the prior art resided in thefact that the operation was such that should the number wheel turn atthe same time that printing was being effected, the numbers printed weresmudged and in some instances, the paper was torn.

By our present invention the printing mechanisrn is operated quickly andeven though the printing circuit be held closed, the striker headrecedes after effecting the printing operation and does not remain incontact with the number or printing wheel.

Still another advantage resides in the structure which has no levers torequire lubrication or which may, in time, become dirty and inoperative.

Another advantage resides in thefact that although the operation isquick in the nature of a hammer blow, the action is cushioned and doesnot cause disintegration of the device because of excessive shock.

Furthermore, the structure is simple and compact, its simplicity leadingto economies in manufacture, and its compactness allowing it to bemounted in places Where there are space limitations.

Still other advantages of the invention and the invention itself willbecome more apparent from the following description of an embodimentthereof, which description isillustrated by the accompanying drawingsand forms a part of this specication.

In the drawings:

Fig; 1 is an elevational view of a solenoid operated printing mechanismembodying our inven tion;

Fig. 2 is a view at right angles thereto, with certain parts shown insection as indicated by the line 2--2 of Fig. 1.

Referring now to the drawings, throughout which like parts aredesignated by like reference characters, a fragment of la number orindicia wheel is shown at l having indicia or numbers Il extending fromthe periphery thereof. The printing is effected by engaging the face ofa piece of paper I 2 and pushing it together with an inked ribbon orcarbon paper, not shown, against the indicia of the number wheel.

rotated from time to time, and that particularly where the printing iseiected at time intervals, it may be rotated at the same time theprinting is effected. This normally causes the number to be smudged orillegible, and such occurrence is eliminated by causing the printingoperation to be quick and the instrumentality for effecting the printingto be withdrawn after striking the blow, leaving the number wheel free.

Disposed in spaced relation from the wheel and paper is the strikingmechanism. Briefly, it includes a member for engagement with the paperand tape to move it'against the wheel and a solenoid for striking themember to urge it upward. Specically, it includes a yoke shaped frame l5secured to a base I6 provided with apertured anges Il by which it may besecured to another part of the machine.

Secured to the upper part I8 of the yoke, on the underside thereof arethe laminations of a solenoid I9. Preferably, these laminations arewelded to the part I8 as indicated at 20, Fig. 2. The laminations are ofgenerally E shape and include the outer legs 22 and a short center leg23. The winding for the solenoid is conventional and includes a winding24 carried by a form, the end flanges of which are indicated at 25.

The ends of the legs 22 are provided with guide flanges 26, on oppositesides of each leg, between which is guided a laminated armaturecomprising a head portion 2 and a stem 28. The stem 28 extends into theopen core of the winding 24 and is adapted to be attracted therein uponenergize.- tion of the winding.

The head 2l is provided with a downwardly extending portion 3G, the endof which rests on the plate I6 when the winding is de-energized. A slot3l is provided, the conformation of which is best shown in Fig. 2,through the center portion of the portion 30, and the laminations areapertured at 33 to provide for a point of connection for a levernot/shown, should it be desired.

The upper part I8 of the frame, as best shown in Fig. 2 has securedthereon spaced apart guide posts 35. The guide posts are generallycylindrical and are formed with shoulders 36 disposed in engagement withthe top of the frame, and the lower ends of the posts beyond theshoulders extend through and are headed over at 37 to hold the samesecurely in place.

The shoulders, besides assisting in holding the posts securely in placealso act as spacers for a block 40 which is loosely mounted on theposts. The upper face of the block 40 is provided with a longitudinallyextending recess 4l in which is secured a resilient block 42. The block42 may be of rubber, fabric or other resilient material and may besecured in the recess by a suitable cement.

The underside of the block is provided with a recess d5 in which issecured a pad of fibrous material 4B. This material may also be rubber,felt or some similar material.

In line with the pad 46, and extending through the plate I8 is a strikerpin which comprises a head t8, disposed above the frame I8 and inengagement with the pad d, and a stem :39 which extends through theframe and through the laminations 23 into the interior of the solenoidcore.

When the winding 24 is energized, the armature stem 28 is attractedviolently into the open core toward the center leg 23, which iteventually engages. Prior to striking the leg 23, however,

Vthe end of the stem 2S strikes the end of the stem 69 and moves theblock il upward. The rubber 42 engages the paper and/or tape i2 andforces it against the indicia I2 on the printing wheel. l

It will be noted that the armature stem 28 can travel the full distancefrom the position as shown in Fig. 2, to the end of the leg 23, whilethe stem 495 of the striker pin only extends beyond the leg 23approximately one half the distance. Also the distance that stem 159extends beyond the leg is less than the distance between the block 42and the printing wheel. Therefore, the armature strikes the striker pinwhen it has attained a high velocity' and knocks it, together with theblock 11B and its associated parts upward, it being 'free to slide onthe guide pins 35. Even though the solenoid be energized for a materiallength of time, and the plunger be retained within the solenoid inengagement with the leg 23, the longitudinal dimension of the strikerpin is such that having struck the block and effected the printing, theblock then drops free rof the number wheel.

Thus the blow is struck quickly and the printing is effected quickly andthe number wheel is free to turn at substantially all times, themovement of impact being of very short duration.

The embodiment shown is particularly adapted to operate taking advantageof gravitational forces. For this operation, it is desirable to operatethe same in an upright position. It will be appreciated, however, thatthel same advantage may be retained by supplying return springs forthe'various parts should it be desired to mount the same in anotherposition, and that the application of such springs would be apparent tothose versed in the art. For instance, the armature could be held in theopen position by a spring attached in the opening Y33, and likewiselight weight springs could be used to force the block back toward theframe.

Having thus described our invention in an embodiment thereof, we areaware that numerous and extensive departures may be made therefromwithout departing from the spirit or scope of invention.

Weclaim:

1. In combination with a printing wheel and a strip adapted to haveindicia printed thereon, a printing mechanism comprising a frame havinga base and a yoke supported by the base, a solenoid disposed in saidframe suspended from said yoke, a pair of guide pins on said yokeextending vertically above the yoke in spaced-parallel relation to eachother, a block slidably disposed on said guide pins, bosses on said pinsto hold said block in spaced relation from the top of said frame, arecess formed in the top of said block, a rubber block disposed in saidrecess adapted for engagement with said paper and to force said paperagainst said printing wheel when the solenoid is energized, a recess inthe bottom of the block, a brous pad in the recess, a headed pin havinga stem extending through the frame into said solenoid, a head above saidframe for engagement with said pad, plunger means disposed forattraction into said winding and to engage with said pin stem, thelength of said pin being such that when the plunger is in attractedposition in the solenoid the block is out of engagement with theprinting wheel.

2. In combination with an indicia wheel and a medium for having indiciafrom said wheel impressed thereon; means to move said medium intomomentary engagement with said wheel comprising a solenoid, a plungernormally withdrawn from said solenoid but adapted to be drawn into saidsolenoid to an attracted position, a striker pin movably mounted on saidsolenoid with one end in position to be engaged by said plunger, platenmeans engaging said striker pin at its other end for movement therebyand adapted to move said medium against said wheel the distance betweenthe plunger and the striker pin in normal position being less than thedistance between the platen and the indicia wheel, the combined lengthof said plunger, pin and platen means being such that said platen issupported in spaced relation to said wheel by said plunger and pin, whensaid plunger is in its attracted position.

3. Means for forcing a medium against an indicia wheel to print indiciaon said medium, comprising a solenoid, a plunger for said solenoidhaving a normal position withdrawn from said solenoid and an attractedposition drawn into said solenoid, a striker pin movably mounted on saidsolenoid for engagement at one end by said plunger, guide means mountedon said solenoid, a block movably disposed on said guide means inposition to be engaged by the other end of said striker pin, said blockbeing adapted to force said medium against said wheel as said plungerengages said pin forcibly driving said pin and said block toward saidwheel the distance between the plunger and the striker pin in normalposition being less than the distance between the platen and the indiciawheel, the combined length of said plunger, pin and block being suchthat said block is in spaced relation to said wheel when said plunger isin its attracted position.

4. In combination with an indicia member and a means to have indiciaimpressed thereon from said member, means to move said means intoengagement with said member including a frame having a base and a yokethereon, a solenoid suspended from said yoke, a plunger having a stemadapted to be attracted into said solenoid upon energization of thesolenoid, a striker pin having a head disposed outside said frame and astem extending through said frame into said solenoid, and normallyspaced from and opposite to the plunger and adapted to be struckupwardly by the plunger when the plunger is attracted within thesolenoid, a movable block disposed outside of said frame adjacent saidhead, guide means on the frame for guiding-said block, a shock absorbingpad carried by said block normally in engagement with the head vofsaid'pin, and resilient pad means carried by said block for engagementvwith said means to be moved into engagement with the indicia member,said resilient pad means being disposed at a distance from the printingmember greater than the distance between the pin stem and plunger whenthe ange is in normal unattracted position.

5. In combination with a printing wheel and a strip adapted to haveindicia printed thereon, a printing mechanism comprising a frame havinga base and a yoke supported by the base, a solenoid disposed in saidframe suspended from said yoke, a pair of guide pins on said yokeextending vertically above the yoke in spaced parallel relation to eachother, a block slidably disposed on said guide pins, bosses on said pinsto hold said block in spaced relation from the top of said iframe, arecess formed in the top of said block, a resilient pad member disposedin said recess adapted for engagement with said paper and to force saidpaper against said printing wheel when the solenoid is energized, arecess in the bottom of the block, a pad in the recess, a headed pinhaving a stem extended through the frame into said solenoid and normallyspaced from and opposite to the plunger and adapted to be struckupwardly by the plunger when the plunger is attracted Within thesolenoid, the head of said pin being above said frame adjacent said pad,plunger means disposed for attraction into said winding and to engagesaid pin stem, said resilient pad means being disposed at a distancefrom the printing wheel greater than the distance between the pin stemand plunger when the plunger is in normal unattracted position.

6. For use in printing mechanism having an indicia member and means toreceive indicia printed thereon from said member, a striking mechanismcomprising a frame, a solenoid carried by said frame, a plunger having astem to be attracted into said solenoid upon energization of saidsolenoid, stop means adapted to stop the travel of said plungerabruptly, a striker pin extending through said frame into said solenoidnormally spaced from and opposite to said plunger, a movable blockdisposed outside of said frame, engaging said striker pin and adapted tobe moved thereby, said striker pin and block being disposed at adistance from the indicia member greater than the distance between theends vof the plunger and striker pin in normal unattracted position ofthe plunger adapted to travel beyond the position to which they arecarried by the plunger as it reaches said stop means, said block beingthereby effective to print said indicia by reason of the impact of saidplunger on said striker pin.

ALLAN J. PARK. MICHAEL J. DOBES.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 339,293 Hill Apr. 6, 1886 436,319Silkman Sept. 9, 1890 1,062,748 Todd May 27, 1913 1,582,217 Henry Apr.27, 1926 1,798,583 Bishop Mar. 31, 1931 2,003,787 Lake- June 4, 19352,019,301 Friden Oct. 29, 1935 2,091,724 Whistler Aug. 31, 19372,238,507 Ruttiman Apr. 15, 1941 2,348,566 Papazian May 9, 19442,364,345 Cooper Dec. 5, 1944 2,546,114 Triplett Mar. 20, 1951 2,559,455Meyer July 3, 1951

